CONFIDENTIAL
Multo arls_
791
pa.
St
104053
MDHIAN 5947
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3835
OF 12110OZ DECEMBER 91
18
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP Cury Q DIST?
JLG AND LEGCO RELATIONSHIP: LEGCO QUESTION.
MISS EMILY LAU HAS PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING LEGCO QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER AT THE SITTING ON 18 DECEMBER:
'SINCE AGREEMENTS REACHED BY THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP APPARENTLY CANNOT BE ALTERED OR RE-NEGOTIATED, AND THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT BE CONSULTED UPON THEM IN ADVANCE, WHAT ACTION WILL GOVERNMENT TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THIS COUNCIL'S DUTY TO SCRUTINISE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IMPLEMENTING SUCH AGREEMENTS DOES NOT BECOME A MERE RUBBER STAMPING EXERCISE ?'.
2. WE PROPOSE THAT SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SHOULD
REPLY AS FOLLOWS:
'ARTICLE VII (I) OF THE LETTERS PATENT PROVIDES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE LAWS IN HONG KONG WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WHENEVER DRAFT LEGISLATION IS PUT BEFORE IT, THE COUNCIL DECIDES WHETHER TO APPROVE OR OTHERWISE. THIS COUNCIL'S SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THOROUGH AND CONSCIENTIOUS AND, I HAVE NO DOUBT, WILL REMAIN SO'.
'FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING THIS COUNCIL'S SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION BEFORE IT, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AND EXPLANATION TO THIS COUNCIL AS CAN PROPERLY BE PROVIDED. MEMBERS WILL, I TRUST, RECOGNISE THAT IN DOING THIS WE HAVE TO OBSERVE THE PROVISION ON CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP LAID DOWN IN ANNEX II TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION'.
3.
GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DESKBY 14010OZ.
WILSON
YYYY
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